Title: Reshaping the Future
Chapter - The Sniper's Son

Summary: On the way home from their pizza outing, Ed and Clark talk about the events of the ride along and what's been happening at home, finally breaking a few weeks of silence between father and son and reshaping a new legacy. Ed/Clark Post Ep OS to eppy 5.09 Lawmen 'contains some spoilers'

Disclaimer: If I owned anything to do with FP Ed would be all mine! Hehe *alas* I own only my DVD's that fuel my imaginative muse Alice.

A/N: Okay wow I was right on the money with the home life stuff (thanks Clark-you'll see ref to that later) but at least they mentioned it, briefly. Makes me happy that I stuck with these and showed the progression as I thought it might play out b/c we haven't gotten anything of Ed's home life in the series at all so far that would attest to that except what Clark said in this eppy. Okay rambling over lol hope you all like this.

Note: "Words in italics and double quotes taken directly from episode" ('single quotes & italics are past thoughts')

"You alright Eddie?" Greg asked in a low tone at the end of the call after team one had filed out after the baddies were in custody.

"Not even close," Ed replied as the two of them stood looking at their sons a few meters away.

"You know what Clark did with his cell phone…we wouldn't have come in time. Pretty smart move, pretty brave."

"What, that makes up for it?" Ed asked slowly, his mind digesting the truthfulness of Greg's statement.

"Sometimes Dean does something that drives me crazy…and sometimes he does something that makes me so proud I think my heart's gonna burst. The thing is that's happening more and more at the same time. Clark's a great kid…got a lot of you in there," Greg concluded, Ed's lips unable to do anything but smile at the truthful complement.

"So…what do we do?" Ed inquired mostly rhetorically as they finally walked toward their sons; Ed looking at Clark as he spoke his next words.

"You know if you wanna be a cop you gotta follow the rules."

"Yeah we get that," Clark replied with a small sigh.

And that was it… the future had been reshaped…not by words…but by actions – those of his … and those of his son's.

"Wanna go for pizza?" Greg suggested to both boys, making them look at each other in shock.

"Sure," both reply at once.

And that's how the day ended, with the four of them going to the somewhat quiet pizza parlor and capping off a very exciting and stress filled day with some high calorie offerings; the two fathers listening to their sons recall their journey minute by minute and reliving it with them. Before long it was time for the four of them to part ways; making a plan to do another father/son outing, this time one not involving guns or the chance of death.

On the drive home, Ed's mind thinks back to a discussion the day before he had with his wife, and he now wonders what going home after the day's very trying events would hold for them both.

'A ride along? Ed, Clark doesn't want…' she had tried to protest the out of the blue suggestion.

'Hey it was a surprise to me too but, Greg said Dean asked and…it's going to be a routine escort tomorrow. Besides, this will give him a good idea…look you were the one that said I should be spending more quality time with Clark.'

'Yes normal father, son stuff. Like a ballgame or a concert Taking him into the heat of…'

'Soph, I give you my word that he won't get out of the truck and I would never take him into a hot call or tense situation. There are endless liabilities on that. I don't want anything to happen to him either but…but as of late I just don't think Clark gets all that I do or respects it. This…this will help. I promise everything will be okay.'

'Not a scratch on him.'

'And me?' He had asked with a small smirk.

'I will hold you to that promise Ed,' she stated firmly before turning back to make dinner, letting him ponder his promise about bringing his son home unscathed.

XXXXXXXX

Ed had awoken earlier than normal that morning with a bit of extra nervous energy brewing inside. Clark was coming with him to work…a simple ride along. Simple? His brain had tossed back. Having to be on your top game in front of your son to prove to him that this is the job for him isn't that simple. Over the past few weeks he had noticed that Clark and him had grown a bit more distant; but still he held back from asking if everything was okay, telling himself that if Clark had a problem he would tell him. If he could just get Clark to see what a difference the job made and that there was more to be proud of it than to fear at the end of the day, maybe he could sway him back in his direction. Maybe it's not just the job itself that is keeping you distant, his brain had tried to get him to clue into time and time again; Ed not seeing it – yet.

'I don't want you to lecture Clark about not being a cop either…if after today he doesn't want to…' Sophie had warned; Ed assuring her that it was just to help their son get a better feel for why his father had to work the long hours he did. 'Not all cops keep your hours Ed,' she had truthfully reminded him when he scoffed at her idea that he was going to use this as an SRU recruiting mission and make it seem like a regular job. He had argued back that he was keeping up his part of the bargain, to which she would agree, however, it wasn't a nine to five job either as she had retorted back.

Ed looks over at his silent son as his mind thinks back to Greg's parting discussion as they were leaving the pizza place.

'Almost afraid to go home,' Ed smirked as he and Greg left the pizza place behind Clark and Dean.

'Oh come on now, it won't be that bad.'

'Trust me, I'd rather be facing a hundred heavily armed dealers than one angry Sophie Lane.'

'So if you don't come in tomorrow…'

'Send out the team,' Ed slightly smirks as they reached their vehicles and prepared to go separate ways.

'Ed.'

'Yeah?'

'Remember…Clark did make you proud today. Keep that feeling.'

He had offered Greg a nod as he ushered Clark back toward their waiting SUV, the next stop home. But as he feels the tension starting to thicken inside the quiet cabin, he knows he has to do something…anything to break it.

"Whatever you want to ask…say…whatever…just say it okay?" Ed finally breaks the silence as he looks over at Clark; purposely driving slower on the way home to give him and Clark a real chance to talk without behind interrupted. It really wasn't until he saw how close Greg and Dean were at supper that he finally started to feel the distant strain between himself and his own son. "Clark?" Ed gently presses again. "I know today was intense…but just ask okay?"

"Are you mad?"

"About you two leaving the truck? About you two disobeying orders? Facing a very desperate man? Going into a live battle zone? Being too close to danger? Making me break my promise to mom?" Ed inquires as Clark slowly nods.

"Yup you're mad."

"Well can you blame me? We weren't after some two bit purse snatcher today. Clark those guys…" Ed's voice raises and then quickly drops. "Okay I didn't want to make a big deal of it in front of Greg and Dean, but whose idea was it to leave the truck first? Yours or Dean's? Dean told me it was your idea to come for the ride along and that you wanted to ride with Greg but Greg told me at first that you didn't seem interested. Dean's been interested in police work for longer; so I'm not really buying it was your idea. So was it his idea to leave the truck at first, or yours?"

"Mine," Clark admits with a heavy sigh as he thinks back to him and Dean first in the truck and how it was his idea to get closer to the action; despite what he had promised his mother that morning and Greg just before they were left alone.

"We should move up and see what's going on," Clark suggested, much to Dean's surprise. "Come on…why not?"

"My dad told us to stay."

"I was told we were going for a ride along today…pretty sure this doesn't feel like a ride along. You wanted to see police work up close didn't you? Don't think you're the sitting in the truck type. Come on. Yeah your dad will be half as pissed as mine."

"Yours? All yours?"

"Yeah mine. I know…I don't know what I was thinking."

"Me either. You, the guy who joked about the biggest threat between the truck and the door being shin splints? One minute you seemed off in space and then next it's your idea to get closer to a shootout in progress after told to stay put?" Ed asks in disbelief. "You're bored so you get Dean to break the rules with you?"

"I just wanted…I wanted to see more of the action…get closer. I was caught up in the moment and…"

"And acted on instinct," Ed finishes for his son; this time Clark nodding in agreement. "And going after that bag? That was instinct also?"

"That was Dean's idea. I told him leaving the truck…"

"Really? Clark, you first told him to leave the truck and then what? You suddenly had a moment of conscience?"

"Afterward yes. We heard the shots…saw the guy leaving with the bag and then…yeah I did. I told Dean we shouldn't have gotten out of the truck and I did want to stay in the cab and go home. But wanting to go after the bag was Dean's idea."

"I can't do it Clark. We can't just drive off…it's not right. People could get hurt."

"It's not our business," Clark had protested back.

"I can do this alone…"

"The first time he went along with you and the second you with him. Willingly?" Ed pushes.

"Sorta," Clark huffs as he thinks back to his giving in and telling Dean that if he let his best friend go alone he'd feel like the biggest dink on earth. "I couldn't let him go alone. So we both agreed and came up with a plan."

"You two are a lot alike."

"Like you and Greg?"

"Make a good team."

"So you're not mad?"

"Oh I'm mad. Clark despite the outcome you still didn't listen. You broke the rules."

"And you're all about the rules right?"

"Pardon? Clark you could have gotten into a lot of trouble today, and I don't just mean a phony arrest. You could have been shot…injured, whatever. Those rules are in place for a reason. It could have gone a lot worse."

"But we didn't. And we helped right? I mean the cell phone was a pretty good idea right?"

"It…yeah it was a great idea," Ed replies, looking over at Clark's smile with a small frown. "But the end still doesn't justify the means. Cops…."

"You're not judges, you up hold the law, yeah Greg said that too."

"And he's right."

"But without our help you wouldn't have gotten that guy in time," Clark protests in return.

"That impulse to help…I get that okay? I do."

"Are you just saying that?" Clark tosses back, making Ed look at him with a small smile.

"No. No, I know because I have that in me…had that since I was your age…and as much as you might not want to think that…but you got a few things from me in you," Ed confesses softly, his mind drifting away for a few seconds as he remembers what Greg told him about Clark being like his father.

"Clark's a great kid…got a lot of you in there," Greg noted in truth.

"Greg said that to me too," Clark admits with a heavy sigh.

"Man of few words…just like your dad," Sam mentioned to Clark at the start of the ride along.

"Me like my dad? Nope…not at all."

"Oh I wouldn't be so sure," Greg offered in truth. "I see a lot of Ed in you."

"I hear a butt in there," Ed interrupts Clark's thinking back to the start of his ride along with Greg and Sam. "Clark?"

"Never mind. I'm not like you okay…just not. Maybe a little but…not in everything. Sorry I'm just not."

Knowing it was the time to not let the matter drag out any further Ed slowly pulls the car over to the side of the road and puts it into park; Clark looking at him in wonder.

"Dad, what's going on?"

"Talk to me Clark. I know today was tough but…you said the few times…the few times I have talked…have yelled…have what? Not in everything. You have something specific in mind? I want you to tell me. The few times that I what…?"

"The few times you have said anything to me over the past few weeks. You're like a zombie at home most of the time. Do you even notice I'm there?" Clark blurts out and then stops, Ed's eyebrows slightly rising but his lips uttering no sounds. He merely nods and then rests back in his seat, exhaling heavily.

"Do you know what it's like to have the city's top crisis negotiator as your father? It sucks."

"Yeah well at least he talks, these days my dad hardly says a word."

"I have been distant and…a zombie? Really? A zombie?"

"Zombie's don't talk. They don't know…you're around…I don't know…it just fit. Sometimes you just zone out," Clark shrugs. "You don't talk…at all sometimes and…when I'm there and you're like that…it makes me think…"

"That I seem uninterested or unapproachable or don't know you're around."

"Was it because of you shooting that young woman?" Clark asks softly, Ed already nodding his head.

"May Dalton. Part of it."

"I don't get it."

"What? What don't you get Clark?"

"She was innocent and defending her mother from their abusive ass father and you…you just shot her. Just like that. You should have shot him instead. Instead you followed the rules. You guys talk about the rules…but if this is what the rules do to you, then I don't know if I want it."

"Clark…how did you…who told you all that?"

"Mom," Clark looks out the window as his mind recalls his discussion with Dean by the fence before they got the bag. "I had to know why you were acting so weird as of late and you never talk to me anymore."

"My mom told me. She had to tell me something to explain the mood swings, the silence. He is so torn up."

"I wanted to spare you…Clark I wanted to save you from that emotional hell."

"By you turning into a different person? By ignoring me?" Clark snaps back as Ed bites his tongue. "You might wanna spare Izzy those details but I'm not a baby dad. I have noticed. Do you know what I even think about that shooting? Stuff I tell Dean and not you?"

"Sometimes I'll just find him in the middle of doing something…getting a glass out of the cupboard. You know it's just like someone pressed paused…he's dead still…staring at the countertop. And the worst part is when I look at him now that's all I see. The guy that put the bullet in that girls head. I mean what kind of guy even does that Dean?"

"I'm sorry…I wish I had…I wish you had tried harder to…no, it's not your fault. This…I wasn't ready to just share everything that I go through and figured since nothing was said you didn't notice. I thought I could handle it but…"

"And therapy isn't helping?"

"Mom tell you that too?" Ed lightly growls and then quickly cools.

"I was starting to wonder where you were when Dean said Greg was home and you should have been also. She just said you had to go see a doctor. I assumed it was a shrink since you weren't ever sick. What's going on?" Clark dares to ask.

"Sometimes things don't go as planned as you saw today. People aren't who they seem. You have something in mind…a set plan…a set outcome, but human beings…they're unpredictable and no matter how much you train for a situation…sometimes there are other factors that force a sudden change. But that's why we have rules that we obey and uphold."

"To make yourself feel better for killing a young girl?" Clark argues back as Ed's face winces. "Do you regret any of it?"

"When May Dalton pulled her gun…Clark she changed things…she forced my hand in ways I swear…if I could go back," Ed's voice cracks as he looks away and swallows down a sob. "I was given an order…I followed. There are rules…and as cops…we follow rules you know that but…but just because you follow something doesn't always mean you have to accept the outcome or like it. Her life…it was taken too soon. I do regret that. I wish she had waited…listened…let us help her and do the right thing. If so…"

"Then she'd still be alive."

"With her mom and her abusive ass father would be in jail. But she didn't…and now…now I have to live with that. Son…yes I regret shooting her but I had no choice. Clark when I zone out…it's not you okay? It's not you…it's me. I see her face…hear her asking my name…making it personal."

"She made it personal with you?" Clark asks weakly. "How?"

"She created an emotional connection. Asked my name…called me Ed…made me promise to keep her safe. After you make that connection…taking that life isn't easy, rules or not and I just…Clark it's not you, okay? It's not…you," Ed's voice dies out as he quickly turns his watery gaze out the window and shakes his head. A few seconds pass before he feels Clark's hand on his and then turns to see his son give him a comforting smile. "Clark I'm so sorry…I…I'm sorry…" Ed laments in a tormented tone before he surprises them both and gets out of the car, needing some fresh air. Clark quickly gets out and follows behind a few feet and then stops.

"Dad it's okay," Clark offers softly as he hears Ed offer a small sniffle and feels instant remorse.

"No Clark it's not. Doing your job well is one thing but letting the important things slide…like talking to your son who you…love…that's not a good thing, and I'm sorry…Clark I'm so sorry I let our connection weaken. I'm sorry I let it slide. If you're mad..."

"I wasn't mad…I just thought…"

"It was you?"

"Yeah I did. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I made you feel that way and pushed you away without really knowing I was doing it. It wasn't on purpose, okay? Not on purpose. My father…Clark you never knew him as long as I did but he…he never talked…that's what I grew up with. He was a good man…a good provider and a great cop but he…he wasn't the best father all the time. I learned from him to just keep things to myself…work through things myself…take care of it myself," Ed sighs as he turns back to his son who is looking at him with wonder. "I'm just not good at talking."

"I know," Clark blurts out and then frowns.

"Come here," Ed entreats as he pulls his beloved son into his embrace and holds him close in his grasp, his cheek resting on Clark's dark brown locks. "I never want this to happen between us again okay? These long periods without really talking. Me being there…but not really being there…son you gotta help me okay? I need your help too," Ed begs softly, making Clark's eyes instantly water. "I will try harder, I promise, but you hafta help me. Remind me…yell at me…whatever just…help me."

"Okay."

"I was so proud of you today…so proud," Ed pulls back and looks at his son with a tender gaze. "Hell yeah I was worried…I was but I was proud. Clark that feeling…knowing that you're quick thinking and actions helped us save a good man…that you wanted to help…worked with your partner as a team…today I was proud. So proud."

"When you didn't answer…in that building when they kept saying Eddie…and then shot in the chest…dad I was scared it was you that was shot," Clark admits softly. "That part scares me. But…today has changed my mind about being a cop. Despite that feeling of being scared, I really liked it working with Dean and stuff…I did, I'm not just saying that because you want to hear it. I really did."

"I would always be proud of you no matter what Clark, no matter what you know that, but to hear you say you want to think about being a cop seriously…son that…that makes me happy."

"Think mom will be mad?"

"About you wanting to be a cop or not listening to me about staying in the truck," Ed lightly retorts.

"She's gonna kill me right?" Clark asks with a groan as Ed wraps his arm around his son and pulls him close as they head back to the car.

"Just her? You did disobey you know."

"Want to lock me in the tool shed until I'm 18?" Clark smirks as Ed nods. "What are you going to tell her?" His smirk quickly morphs to a frown.

"Well if I tell her the whole truth I might be homeless also," Ed retorts as Clark smirks. "Let's just play it by ear okay?"

"Dad?"

"Just…Clark let's play it by ear."

"Okay. So why did uncle Roy want to become an undercover cop instead of going into the SRU?"

"Because he's crazy," Ed lightly chuckles as they resume their previous course for home.

"He said that about you," Clark counters as Ed glances over in shock.

"What? Okay when have you two been talking?"

"Well…"

As they pull away and resume their course toward home, Ed feels as if a tremendous emotional weight had been lifted from his shoulders and taken away. For weeks he had hid himself away into an emotional otherworld, one he thought no one really noticed. But tonight Clark confessed how it made him feel…what he thought about his father's actions surrounding May's death, his silence at home and how it affected him and what future steps they would both take to ensure things would change for the better and work at getting back the close bond they once enjoyed as father and son.

"We're home," Ed mentions, not too loudly so as not to wake Izzy.

"So does Clark still want to be an accountant after today?" Sophie looks at her son with a small smile after giving her husband a welcome home hug.

"Actually…I am thinking more about something else," Clark looks at Ed with a smile.

"Really? One day with your father and you are ready to join the ranks?"

"Today was pretty cool."

"Really? What happened?" She asks in wonder as the three of them remain in the hallway.

"Dad busted some dirty cops."

"Misguided…cops," Ed corrects. "Routine stuff," Ed shrugs; Sophie instantly reading into the uncertainty in his tone.

"Routine, right. Goodnight Clark."

"Night mom. Night dad…thanks again."

"Night Clark," Ed replies warmly as he gives Clark another hug and then both parents watch their son head up the stairs and disappear around the corner; Ed turning back to look at Sophie. "What? It was routine."

"No danger to Clark as you promised?"

"I would have never forgiven myself if…Clark was okay…okay?"

"How close was he to the action Ed?" Sophie queries as they head into the living room and both slump into the nearby couch.

"Close enough to…to see it all real good. Today…I expected today to be…I don't know I guess I expected him to come home saying he still wanted to be a paper pusher or something boring like an accountant."

"My brother is an accountant," she lightly pinches his thigh, making him smirk.

"I know. But after the call…he told me he…Sophie when he said that he wanted to think seriously about being a cop…going through the whole schooling with Dean, being his partner, I…."

"I know," she utters softly, making him look over at his wife with a furrowed brow. "You were happy and proud. Your legacy."

"My legacy. This was his choice, he proved that today…he really proved it. And I know you wanted a safer life for him but…"

"But he has more of you in him than we both might realize or I might want at times," she sighs as she leans in closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder; Ed's hand slipping into hers. "I don't want to lose him Ed."

"Sophie…he's got a good head on his shoulders. He's smart…resourceful and…him and Dean will make a good team."

"But can you blame me for worrying?"

"No," Ed resigns with a heavy sigh. "I wanted us to come home with a few boring but amusing stories…instead…"

"You both come home after an obviously exciting outing and his mind has been changed. Ed I see it on your face when you have made a big arrest because it's what you live for. And I saw that on Clark's face when he came home tonight. He wants it just as much as you only today he could finally admit it."

"He's growing up so fast…part of me wants him to go back to being a small boy or just speed ahead to him at my age with everything worked out," Ed confesses with a heavy sigh.

"Skip the fun stuff?" Sophie quips. "The good stuff?"

"The stuff that will make us proud?" Ed adds with a warm smile as her hand tightens around hers.

"Proud and paranoid?"

"I worry too okay. I do. But Sophie…"

"I know…it's the job."

"It's the job. The only job I'd recommend and you know that."

"And today…Ed was Clark really safe? Did he listen as you promised he would?"

"Clark…he made me proud today," Ed whispers as he kisses her cheek. "He made me proud. We even talked on the way home," Ed quickly adds to keep the talk about his son not listening away from his already worried wife; knowing the discussion she'd give him if she knew he was out in the thick of danger where more than one person had died over the course of the day and the same hot call.

"Yeah? What about."

"Me…us…talking, not talking…we…we finally talked. I know…it's been hell the last few weeks…Clark told me that. Some of it was surprising but…it was painful to hear at first but I'm glad he told me, I'm glad we connected. Got back to the beginning and starting fresh."

"And for that I am happy…for both of you. Was long overdue," she replies back as they linger together in comfortable silence a few moments longer. "He looks up to you and loves you so much."

"He's a great kid…Sophie a great kid, I love him so much. And if anything…happened to him…"

"Those are the same feelings I have every day you go off to work; the same feelings I had wondering what today would be like for you and him. It was a good day. Some aren't. I try not to dwell upon it."

"Sophie…"

"Ed, it's late and today has been a long day for all of us…let's get some rest and see what happens tomorrow. I'll lock up and see you upstairs."

"Okay," Ed answers as they both stand up. "I love you."

"I love you too," she echoes the same sentiment before pulling away and heading into the kitchen; Ed hearing a small shuffle and looking up to see Clark standing at the top of the stairs and offers his beloved son a small frown.

"Am I in trouble?" Clark asks with a hushed tone as he heads down the stairs.

"You?" Ed arches his brows.

"Mom can't ground you."

"Wanna bet," Ed retorts as Clark's lips smirk. "I told her you made me proud today."

"But…"

"You did Clark, I didn't lie. I just didn't elaborate either," Ed states firmly. "Now since we both had such a crazy day why don't we get some sleep and tomorrow we'll work on that final science project you are behind on."

"What? No hoops?"

"Not after today. Clark you did break the rules. I might not have told her that but you did and we both know it. There has to be something for that."

"But…"

"No buts…that's it," Ed counters, not backing down.

"Great," Clark groans as Ed pokes his side and then playfully pulls him toward the stairs, Clark offering a small chuckle just as Sophie turns off the kitchen light and watches them with an endearing glance. For weeks she had nearly begged Ed on a regular basis to open up to Clark; include their son in his life and not shut him out as much as he had. Now watching their playful banter and hearing their warm laughter, warms her heart in ways she can't express; her mind now hoping that this was the breakthrough Ed needed to get back on the right emotional track and away from that the mental precipice she and Greg had both feared he was heading toward; that fateful outcome might now be averted.

Ed watches Clark enter his room and offers him a warm smile. The day had started out with inner tension and uncertainty; had progressed with surprise and anxiety but had ended with hope, understanding and a new bond formed between father and son. It wasn't what he had planned for the day but looking back there isn't another way he would have wanted it to end. He had made a promise to Clark to get back to what they had before and building something even stronger and now was going to do everything within his power to keep it.

"Goodnight dad."

"Goodnight…son."

THE END!

A/N: Okay so gosh yeah so much I could have put in here about our boys and you can be sure a few more father/son pieces will be coming if you all want them. But I hope you all liked this eppy offering, I really wanted to focus on Ed and Clark after what Clark said and I know I could have added a lot more but wanted to save some for a later date. So please do review before you go and thanks so much!